Washing machine



FeB. 28, 1939.

W. ROCKE WASHING MACHINE F iled Nov. 18, 19:55 a Shets-Sheet 1 If I J.\Iz F171- 1 m m TM.

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W 1 7 ATTEIRNEYE Feb. 28, 1939. w. ROCKE 2,1 8 6 WASHING MACHINE 4 Filed Nov. 18, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5o 5/ 49 4s 4s 7 MENTEIFL 1 74 1 W ATIEFEN EYE:

Feb. 28, 1939. w. ROcKE WASHING MACHINE v Filed Nov. 18, 1955 3 Shee ts-Sheet 3 llllIII/llllllllIllIIIlI/IIIIII JNXZENT 13m W M iv W W ATTIIENEYE Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention has reference to the art of washing machines, particularly to details of mechanism for operating the washing machine shown in my Patent No. 2,021,466.

The invention has for its principal object the provision of a mechanism for operating the washing machine as aforesaid; which includes a driving motor, driving connection between the motor and the wringer of the washing machine, a clutch device for establishing driving connection between the motor and washing machine mechanism, a device for rendering the washing process ineffective under certain conditions of operation, a pump mechanism adapted to circulate water in the tub. and means for adjusting the pump mechanism in such a manner that the circulating function is discontinued and the pump becomes eifective to force water out of the tub.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sideelevational sectional view showing.the elements of my mechanism in detailed form; v

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view showing details of mechanism to be described;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the mechanism illustrated in Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational sectional view showing a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4; a

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 8-4 in Fig. 1;

or apron structure ii, the whole being supporte I in a portable manner by means of casters I2.

Attached to the apron or leg portion vI I. is a transverse frame structure ll, depending from which is a frame structure I which in turn supports a driving motor IS. The shaft of the driving motor is coupled with a vertically disposed shaft 16, and shaft l6 carries a worm i1 which'meshes with a worm gear l8 attached to a horizontal shaft i9, whichlatter extends outwardly to a point adjacent the outer periphery of the tub, and carries a gear 20 which meshes with a gear 21 attached to a vertical shaft 22, which latter shaft extends upwardly within a housing member 23 and the upper end of the shaft carries a gear 24 which furnishes a driving connection with the wringer devices Since the wringer devices in themselves are not a part of this invention and are'very well known to those familiar with the art, they will not be described herein. The mechanism and arrangement just described obviously provides means to drive the wringer 25 from the motor i5.

On the upper end of shaft IB'there is secured a friction clutch element 26 and a co-operative clutchelement 21 having 'an annular groove 28 slidably supported on a vertical shaft 29 which extends upwardly through the bottom of the tub to a-point above the normal water line in a tub.-

It will be noted that the bottom of the tub, designated 30, is dished so as to form a sump portion and that it has an opening in the center portion in which is secured a-structural member 3|, the edges of the tub bottom and member 3| being securely Joined so as to form a water tight Joint;

Figs. 1, and 11 illustrate that member 3| comprises an upright body portion 32 surrounded by a lower flange portion which is secured to the bottom of the tub as aforesaid. The upright portion 32 has a smooth round exterior finish and is bored out in the central portion to provide a lower contracted portion 33 and an enlarged upper portion 34. In the walls of the lower portion is a series of openings 35 by means of which the.open area within member 3| communicates with the area of the sump of the tub.

Seemed in the upper portion 34 of member 3| is a tubular member 26 which extends above the water line of the tub and is fitted, as shown in detail in Fig. 9, with a cap member 31 which has a recess 38 on its underside with the upper end of shaft 29 journalled in the recess.

The arrangement described obviously provides a support for the upper end of shaft 29.

Just below the cap 31 is a series of openings 40. Secured to shaft 29. and disposed within the tubular member 36 is an auger member 39 which, by means of the clutch 26-41, may be connected or dlsconnectedfrom the 'shaft of the driving motor I! whereby water in the tub, occupying the sump area, may flow through openings SI- and be forced upwardly through tube ti by auger lit and discharged at the top of the tube through openings (it.

Surrounding tube 36 is a tubular member ll which has a contracted diameter near its upper end. Through the walls of this contracted portion there are shouldered screws 32 which are secured in the cap member 31? as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Member ll is so dimensioned with respect to cap 3? that when attached by means of screws d2 there is a space left between member ll and the cap. Member li is thus made stationary with respect to tubular member tit and extends downwardly to a point adjacent to but separated from the outer and downwardly projecting surface of a baflie member M, which is supported from the bottom wall of the tub by means of standards A screen or perforate member 66 occupies the space between the tub wall and bafiie member 62 whereby water in the tub flows into the sump. The function of battle G2 and screen ltl, in co-operation with the lower'end of member ii, are completely disclosed and described in my patent above noted, and further description herein is thought unneccessary.

Disposed between the outer periphery of cap 37! and tube 36 and the outer wall of the contracted portion of member ll is a cap member (l having a contour similar to the upper part of member 69 and the inner surface of the upper contracted portion of member 55 is slidably, but closely fitted to the exterior surface of member 36. Slots are provided in the wall of member id to permit the latter to move up and down over screws #32, the lower position being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. At the center of the top wall of member 15 is a threaded ring 36 in which is threadedly engaged the shank of a screw (ll, which is rotatably retained in the top wall of member it by means of a pin 68 confined by a keeper member till. it will be obvious that manual rotation oi the screw l'lwill bring about a vertical movement of mem- (ill to receive a hose connection. The tube is normally covered by a screw cap 55.

It will be apparent that with the pump in operation water is forced upwardly out of the sump of the tuband normally out through the openings 60 to be discharged below the lower edge of member ii against baflie M. It will also be apparent that with the cap Eli removed from tube Eli and member lit placed in lowered position by means of screw M the walls of member ib will be placed so as to cover the openings (iii, thus preventing the water from discharging from tube 3% and forcing it upwardly through tube 5t and a hose connected thereto to discharge. Continuation of this operation will obviously eventually force all of the water lying in the sump oi the' tub upwardly through tube 3b and out through tube 50, thus providing a convenient and easy means of emptying the tub. The intake openings '55 in portion 32 of member 3i have already been noted. Attention is directed to a band member 52 which normally surrounds the upper portion of member 3i and is slidably, though snugly, fitted thereon in such a manner that it may be slid downwardly as shown in dotted lines in Fig.

' to cover openings 35, whereby, with the pump functioning in the regular manner and member aisaoso did in lowered position; water from the sump portion of the tub is prevented from entering tube vided with trunnion studs which are caged by opposite sides of a yoke member ti l, one end or which is pivotally supported at as upon a bracket 5t secured in the bottom of the tub, as shown.

To the opposite end of the yoke member is attached a vertically disposed rod Ell which extends upwardly inside the tub to a point near the top of member ii as clearly shown in Fig. i. To each of trunnions is attached a coil spring 553, the upper ends of which are anchored to the outerwall of member iii. The springs obviously urge yoke 56 to hold band 52 in elevated position, from which position the band may be moved downwardly to cover openings. 35 by means or pressure on the upper end of rod 57?.

Reference is now made to the clutch 2V. As a means of operating this clutch I provide a mechanism outlined in Fig. 12. The annular groove in clutch All has already been noted. The clutch member is slidably keyed to shaft 29 and a spring 5% reacts between member it to normal= ly hold the clutch in driving engagement. To move the clutch upwardly, out of driving engagement, I provide a mechanism outlined in Fig. 12, which comprises a yoke member 8t) having projections lying in the groove 2d and pivotally supported at at in a bracket member iii. Also supported in bracket 62 is a rod member Gil having a bent portion ti l engaging the free end 65 of the'yoire member. Rod hill is journalle'd in a portion of bracket and extends outwardly to a point adjacent the wringer drive shaft 22 with its outer end supported in the housing structure. The outer end of rod is bent so as to form a crank on the end thereof and to the free end of this crank is attached a rod dd which extends upwardly within the tube 23 and has a.

head portion ti! disposed so as to be easily reached by an operator. The portion d3 passes through a slot in the wall of the tubular member The slot has a vertical portion as shown in Fig. 8 and the lower end oi the slot extends to one side so as to form a ledge dd.

It will be apparent that member til may be forced downwardly so as to rotate rod in such a manner as to elevate the clutch ii at which position the member til may be moved to one side to engage it under the ledge be, thus looking it to hold the clutch in open position. To again place the clutch in working position it is but necessary to disengage member til from shoulder to whereupon spring so will force theciutch into driving engagement.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a tub, means defining a sump in the bottom of the tub, a water tube extending substantially vertically and centrally of the tub from the sump to a place above the normal water level in the tub, said tube having an opening at its bottom communicating with said sump and an opening at its top normally communicating withsaid tub above said sump, a relatively stationary baffle about said tube for directing water from said top opening into the tub, a duct connected with said'tube through said baflle for the discharge of water from the tub, a manually operable valve at the upper end of said tube controlling said top opening for divert- 'ing water flow from the tub to said discharge duct, means for forcing water up said tube, and a manually operable valve controlling the lower opening into said tube, said several valves being operable independently of each other.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, means defining a sump in the bottom of the tub, a tube extending substantially vertically and centrally of the tub from the sump to a place above the normal water level in the tub, said tube having an opening at its bottom communicating with said sump and an opening at its top communicatin with the interior of the tube above the sump, a normally closed discharge duct connected with said tube, independently operable manually controlled valves for closing the top and bottom openings in said tube, means for drawing water into said tube from said sump through said bottom opening and forcing the same to the top of said tube, a bailie member enclosing the upper end of said tube and adapted to direct water discharged from the top opening into the lower portion of the tub, said discharge tube extending through the top of said baiile member, a top valve operatingmember projecting through the top of said baiile member, said top valve being telescopically disposed within said baffle member and having telescopic connection with said tube.

3. In a washing machine, a tub, means defining a sump in the bottom of the tub, a tube extending substantially vertically and centrally of the tub from the sump to a place above the normal water level in the tub, said tube having an opening at its bottom communicating with said sump and an opening at its top communicating with the interior of the tub above the sump, a normally closed discharge duct connected with said tube, means for closing the top opening in said tube, means for. drawing water into said tube from said sump through said bottom opening and forcing the same to the top of said tube, and means for closing the bottom opening in the tube.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, means defining a sump in the bottom of the tub, a water tube extending substantially vertically and centrally of the tub from the sump to a place above the normal water level in the tub, said tube having an opening at its bottom communicating with said sump and an opening at its top normally communicating with said tub above said sump, a relatively stationary baiiie about said tube for directing-water from said top opening into the tub, a duct connected with said tube through said bafiie for the discharge of water from the tub, a manually operable valve at the upper end of said tube controlling said top opening for diverting water flow from the tub to said discharge duct, means for forcing water up said tube, and a manually operable valve controlling the lower opening into said tube.

5. In a washing machine, a tub, means defining a sump in the bottom of the tub, a water tube extending substantially vertically and centrally of the tub from the sump to a place above the normal water level in the tub, said tube having an opening at its bottom communicating with said sump and an opening at its top normally communicating with said tub above said sump, a relatively stationary bafiie about said tube for directing water from said top opening into the tub, a duct connected with said tube through said baiiie for the discharge of water from the tub, means at the upper end of said tube and movable over said top opening for diverting water flow from the tub to said discharge duct, means for forcing water up said tube, and means for closingthe bottom opening in said tube.

6. In a washing machine, a tub, a sump in the bottom of thetub, a perforated plate dividing the sump and main tub interior, a water impeller in the bottom of the tub in communication with the sump, means including water tubing surrounding the impeller and extending to a point above the perforated plate to direct water discharged by the impeller across the perforated plate, and a manually-operated valve mechanism located between the impeller and the sump for controlling the flow of water from the sump to the impeller.

WILLIAM ROCKE. 

